2024-25 Big South Basketball Preview

Conference Overview

Join us for our 2024-25 Big South Basketball Preview, where we explore one of college basketball’s most exciting mid-major conferences. Last year’s conference tournament saw fifth-seeded Longwood claim the championship, earning their second March Madness trip in three years by defeating both top seeds and decisively beating second-seeded UNC Asheville in the final.

This season, High Point stands out as the conference favorite, returning five top players and adding a transfer with high-major experience. The Panthers are led by center Juslin Bodo Bodo, a breakout candidate, along with strong Player of the Year contenders Kezza Giffa and Kimani Hamilton. Winthrop, bringing back four double-digit scorers, is close behind in talent and led by Kelton Talford, a projected all-conference player. Winthrop’s history of success, including conference titles in 2020 and 2021 and a finals appearance in 2022, makes them a formidable contender.

UNC Asheville, despite the graduation of standout Drew Pember, returns a familiar frontcourt and an upgraded backcourt with impact transfers from successful programs. Defending champions Longwood have also revamped, retaining two key frontcourt players while adding four transfers in the backcourt, including high-major, mid-major, and Division II talents, putting them in contention once again.

Charleston Southern, a sleeper in the conference, returns four starters and aims to compete in the upper half after recent challenging seasons. Gardner-Webb, relying on returning players stepping into larger roles, also welcomes back two successful former players who transferred back to the program, adding depth and experience.

Radford is somewhat of a wildcard, bringing in two transfers from the AAC and two others from lower divisions. Rounding out the conference are Presbyterian and USC Upstate. Presbyterian projects an all-returnee starting lineup, though they’ll need someone to emerge as a leader among their balanced scorers. Meanwhile, USC Upstate stands out with a unique roster that includes a three-star freshman, a redshirt, and two players moving up from non-Division I programs.

In the 2024-25 Big South Basketball Preview, the season storyline centers on High Point’s chance to live up to their high expectations and potentially secure their first-ever March Madness appearance. Yet, with fierce competition, there are plenty of contenders who could stand in their way.

Big South Basketball Preview: Projected Standings

1. High Point
2. Winthrop
3. UNC Asheville
4. Longwood
5. Charleston Southern
6. Gardner-Webb
7. Radford
8. Presbyterian
9. USC Upstate

Big South Basketball Preview: Projected Award Winners

Player of the Year: Kimani Hamilton, High Point

Defensive Player of the Year: Juslin Bodo Bodo, High Point

Newcomer of the Year: Colby Garland, Longwood

Freshman of the Year: Carmelo Adkins, USC Upstate

Coach of the Year: Alan Huss, High Point

Big South Basketball Preview: Projected All-Conference First Team

Colby Garland, Longwood

Kezza Giffa, High Point

Kimani Hamilton, High Point

Kelton Talford, Winthrop

Juslin Bodo Bodo, High Point

Charleston Southern Buccaneers

Projected Starters:

PG: RJ Johnson (14.8 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 3.1 apg)

SG: A’lahn Sumler (14.2 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 1.7 apg)

SF: DJ Patrick (10.2 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 1.4 apg)

PF: Taje’ Kelly (14.4 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 1.5 apg)

C: Jaylon Gibson (10.7 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 0.2 apg @ D2 Winston-Salem State) *2022-2023 Stats*

6M: Lamar Oden, Jr. (5.0 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 0.9 apg @ Drexel)

Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs

Projected Starters:

PG: Darryl Simmons II (2.8 ppg, 0.8 rpg, 0.8 apg)

SG: Shahar Lazar (3.7 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 0.4 apg)

SF: Anthony Selden (5.5 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 0.5 apg @ Rice)

PF: Jamaine Mann (5.9 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 0.4 apg @ Georgia State)

C: Isaiah Richards (5.6 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 0.6 apg)

6M: Ademide Badmus (5.6 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 0.7 apg)

High Point Panthers

Projected Starters:

PG: Bobby Pettiford (7.8 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 3.4 apg @ East Carolina)

SG: Kezza Giffa (16.2 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 2.9 apg)

SF: Abdoulaye Thiam (12.7 ppt, 3.4 rpg, 0.9 apg)

PF: Kimani Hamilton (14.9 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 2.3 apg)

C: Juslin Bodo Bodo (7.1 ppg, 9.6 rpg, 0.2 apg)

6M: Trae Benham (8.0 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 0.9 apg)

Longwood Lancers

Projected Starters:

PG: Colby Garland (5.7 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 2.3 apg @ Drake)

SG: Angelo Brizzi (5.6 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 1.6 apg @ Davidson)

SF: DJ Jefferson (3.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 0.0 apg @ Tennessee) *1 Game*

PF: Michael Christmas (11.3 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 0.9 apg)

C: Elijah Tucker (7.9 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 0.3 apg)

6M: KJ McClurg (22.6 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 2.1 apg @ D2 California-PA)

Presbyterian Blue Hose

Projected Starters:

PG: Kory Mincy (6.0 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 1.3 apg)

SG: Jamari Harvey (7.9 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 1.1 apg)

SF: Kobe Stewart (8.2 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 1.5 apg)

PF: Kaleb Scott (7.2 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 0.6 apg)

C: Jonah Pierce (7.3 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 0.8 apg)

6M: Khalon Hudson (18.5 ppg, 9.3 rpg, 1.7 apg @ NAIA Spartanburg Methodist)

Radford Highlanders

Projected Starters:

PG: Tony Felder (12.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 2.8 apg @ Stonehill)

SG: Truth Harris (6.3 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 1.6 apg)

SF: David Early (14.3 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 1.2 apg @ Tennessee Tech)

PF: Isaiah Gaines (0.7 ppg, 0.4 rpg, 0.2 apg @ FAU)

C: Xavier Foster (0.0 ppg, 0.5 rpg, 0.0 apg @ SMU)

6M: TJ Nesmith (8.9 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 0.4 apg)

UNC Asheville Bulldogs

Projected Starters:

PG: Jordan Marsh (6.2 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 1.3 apg @ Appalachian State)

SG: Justin Wright (11.1 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 1.9 apg @ Loyola Marymount)

SF: Fletcher Abee (10.6 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 1.3 apg)

PF: Josh Banks (12.8 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 1.1 apg)

C: Toyaz Solomon (6.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 0.6 apg)

6M: Sage Tolentino (0.0 ppg, 0.2 rpg, 0.0 apg @ Cincinnati)

USC Upstate Spartans

Projected Starters:

PG: Chico Johnson (R-SO @ Drake)

SG: Carmelo Adkins (FR)

SF: Kanye Jones (8.0 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 0.9 apg @ Buffalo)

PF: Breylin Garcia (11.2 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 0.9 apg @ JUCO Daytona State)

C: Daniel Helterhoff (10.6 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 1.2 apg @ NAIA Our Lady of the Lake)

6M: Brit Harris (11.7 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 2.1 apg @ D2 Grand Valley State)

Winthrop Eagles

Projected Starters:

PG: Kasen Harrison (11.3 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 3.8 apg)

SG: Nick Johnson (10.4 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 1.7 apg)

SF: Bryce Baker (5.0 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 0.6 apg @ Old Dominion)

PF: K.J. Doucet (12.4 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 1.4 apg)

C: Kelton Talford (14.1 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 1.1 apg)

6M: Logan Duncomb (2.9 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 0.2 apg @ Indiana) *2022-2023 Stats*

Coming Next

Thank you for reading the 2024-25 Big South Basketball Preview. To view the conference preview release schedule, keep up to date with us on X @collegehoopsrpt. If you haven’t already, feel free to check out one of our other conference previews linked below! Next up is the Big Ten Conference. Thank you for reading, and we appreciate all the support!

• America East Conference Preview
• American Athletic Conference Preview
• ACC Conference Preview
• ASUN Conference Preview
• A10 Conference Preview
• Big East Conference Preview
• Big Sky Conference Preview

Cover Image: Photo Credit: Big South Conference